Where we are

[Marthe48]

I got up yesterday, and turned on the radio. I heard a public service message from local law enforcement on how to help kids be safe at their schools. I took care of the the things on my list, got home close to 6 in the evening. Heard a public service message from Red Cross about being safely prepared for violent storms. Jesus, we have to watch our backs just to live another day. Have to live in fear of getting a call, or losing our house.

I can remember days when school was school, not a survival course, and weather was just something we could chat about in a conversation. So unfair we have all lost our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[Wicked Blue]

1. It is not surprising that there's a teacher shortage

i wouldn't want to sign up for human target practice, would you?

[Marthe48]

3. We haven't had a mass shooting so far

and local police head off threatening situations effectively, but even so, I don't like going anywhere. I don't think anyone planned to sign up for human target practice.

[Diamond_Dog]

6. I'm still avoiding crowded places, period.

And I’m masking up in stores when I do go in - I’ve got surgery coming up at the end of September (nothing serious) and the last thing I need is to come down with Covid.

But nowadays you do think twice about going to a public event - especially a protest - even an outdoor concert or game - it’s always in the back of my mind - who here has a gun? Especially since Dipshit DeWine signed the “Concealed Carry for All” law.

[Marthe48]

9. I'm still avoiding going out because of Covid

But I've loosened up a little. Seems like most people treat Covid like traitor treats classified documents. They think it's enough to want Covid to be over, so they act like it's over. traitor wants the documents to be declassified, so he acts like they are. Anyway, I've gone out a little more this summer, but being careful.

I went to a protest rally before the unelected despots ruled on Roe. We were outside, with masks, on a busy street. We got mostly positive reactions from drivers, but a few nasty gestures. I was worried about guns and took pictures of some sketchy people, j-i-c.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. And I remember walking home from school, alone

Even when I was in kindergarten. Junior high was a 40 minute walk. We lived within the city limits. I never felt scared of anything.

[Marthe48]

4. Halcyon days indeed

The bus stopped by each house where I grew up, later 2 stops on my street, then one, then we had to walk a half mile to the elementary school to get a bus to jr. or sr. high. There were levies that failed and other economic setbacks. But we had a bus if we stayed classes for after school activities. Like sports, clubs or detention

I was never scared. I was happy when our suburb put in sidewalks. I would ride a bike, walk or jog after dark (I was overweight and wanted to slim down) I was never hassled or attacked. And my friend and I would walk to a restaurant and have lunch. So fancy. Or walk a little further to the shopping center and hang out. Early teens.

The first mass murder I remember was the nurses murdered in Chicago, then the clock tower in tx. I was 14 that year.

[Wicked Blue]

11. Took a bus to NYC and rode the subways alone at age 13

Those were the days.

[csziggy]

5. On the other hand, I remember "Duck & Cover" as a policy

In case we got into a nuclear war. I remember plans by my parents to evacuate in case that happened.

I also remember being warned about men inappropriately touching - it turned out that a man that had done work for the family was molesting his own daughter and made moves on my little sister.

Yes, most of the time we kids were pretty much let to roam where we wanted - within limits - and I consider that we were a feral, playing in the swamps and running wherever we liked. But there were fears that we lived with.

By the way, as I wrote this Tiffany Cross had a guest on about a documentary, "Katrina Babies." It brought back my memories of going through Hurricane Donna in 1960 and the aftermath. Warning people about hurricanes is a good idea!

[Marthe48]

7. I agree we should be aware

My Mom warned us over and over not to talk to strangers, don't get in a car with someone we didn't know. She didn't tell us why, left that to our imaginations. With True Crime magazines in the bathroom, we knew

We got to run in the woods too. One of the comedians said that parents watch the kids till they're 5 or 6 and then turn them loose until they're old enough for parents to worry about sex. It's kind of true. lol

I live in Ohio, and while we've had tornadoes and derechos, it wasn't constant. Now, every time I hear that we're getting a storm, I charge all of my devices, get the flashlights or candles ready and make a pot of coffee. I'm in the Ohio Valley, so we have frequent flooding, more than we used to. My parents had some canned goods on shelves in the basement. My sister told me in recent years that they had planned that far in case of a nuclear attack.

I think noticing a warning when I woke up about one thing, and then a warning when I got home about another thing were unhappy bookends to my day.

[2naSalit]

8. But, but, but...

We were all promised those things based on a false assurance that everything good and nice would last forever and we'd never have to worry about anything.

[Marthe48]

10. I make my own corner nice

but sometimes reality intrudes. I'll cheer up